(Forimmediaterelease.net) The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has partnered with the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (STCRC) and its subsidiary arm, EC3 Global, in the drive to encourage sustainable tourism and increase awareness about climate change.

A partnership agreement between the organizations will encourage tourism operators to adopt practical solutions to meet the twin challenges of sustainability and climate change.

The partnership is designed to provide PATA and its members with guidance and access to the STCRC's extensive research and range of sustainable, practice tools. It will create a platform from which to raise awareness and share 'Best Practice' principles with PATA members and chapters regarding corporate social responsibility options. Discounted offers to PATA Members for undertaking EC3 Global benchmarking and certification programs will be rolled out in the coming months.

“As an industry targeted as a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, it is critical that PATA and its members adopt - and are able to demonstrate - sustainable tourism practices and policy," said Michael Yates, PATA's vice president - operations. “This partnership enables PATA to advance its leadership approach to addressing the issues and practicalities of sustainable tourism in the Asia-Pacific region."

PATA will also use EC3's management tools and services to minimize the environmental impact of key PATA events and to reinforce PATA's commitment to leading by example. In January 2008, PATA worked with EC3 Global, managers of the Green Globe brand in Asia Pacific, to use its science and systems to help reduce significantly the carbon footprint of key elements of the successful PATA CEO Challenge. Green Globe is the leading international environmental benchmarking and certification program for the travel and tourism industry.

“Communicating the environmental message and driving change in such a diverse industry as tourism is a challenge. This partnership will serve as a channel for advocating the principles and practical options for tourism operators to reduce their environmental footprint and will underpin industry efforts to champion sustainability," said Stewart Moore, CEO of EC3 Global.